What should I expect to pay to have a new 8 gear Shimano 105 cassette and a new chain installed on an old but classic bike?

Cost of materials and labor? It will be interesting to see how your answers compare to local bike shop quotes. I would do it myself but really don't like working on bikes. I might be talked out of having someone else doing it if someone here told me it was easy which it likely is.....

Thank you!

It'll depend on which exact chain and cassette you pick, and whether any consequential adjustments are needed. In general, $35-$45 for a cassette that comes in a road ratio (HG-50 or PG-850), plus $15-$25 for a chain, plus roughly $20 labor as a ballpark figure.

It's easy if you have the right tools. If you plan on doing it often, you can buy the tools for what the shop will likely charge in labor.

Many shops would install a cassette bought from them for free or maybe something like $5.00. The chain install wouldn't be a freebie, but again fairly nominal if bought from them.

As for the actual parts themselves they vary significantly depending on the model. If you have a bike co-op in town that would be your best bet. If not look for what I call a "blue collar shop". By this I mean a smaller shop, with maybe not as nice a location, which sells more intro and mid level bikes vs. high end, and where repair and service are a bigger part of the business.

The actual price of the same parts may not vary tremendously, but the labor charge will.

A couple concerns about your post. Do you already have said 105 8-speed cassette? You won't find one new in any shop, unless they have a stockpile of NOS parts. Is your bike already setup for for an 8-speed cassette?

You could probably buy the tools to do the job yourself for whatever a shop may charge you in labor to install items you didn't buy there.

Easier than changing a tire, and the socket pays for itself quickly.

Shimano 8-speed cassette: $21
Shimano cassette wrench: $8
chain whip: $10
KMC 8-speed chain: $11
chain tool: $7
(check Amazon)

Labor: your's
total: $57

20 a piece here for labor so 40

Even for such a "simple" question we need more info, because we know nothing about you or the "old but classic" bike.

First, I have to chuckle at the idea that any bike that would be 8 speed compatible could be deemed old, so are you sure the shift system and wheel are 8 speed compatible? Brand, year, model of bike and current cassette cog count would be helpful

Second, do you at least have a 12" or longer adustable wrench or a strong, solidly mounted vise? That is one tool not mentioned above.

Third, you say you don't like working on bikes but you might be talked into it.... Not a good basis to tackle something which on its face is simple but where it is possible to go wrong. Also does not tell us how much you have actually done before.

Finally, what other shops charge is really irrelevent. Rates vary according to region, size of city, type of shop and particularly by what is included, which can vary hugely both by shop practice and variables such as spacing/dishing if required.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSqGa_AjNBA

It could be a little or a lot. 8 speeds aren't very common now so it depends in part on where the LBS orders the parts. They won't have them in stock. There are lots of inexpensive parst available or you could get "new" Shimano. Since the bike is old, a good LBS would go over the bike carefully and might include some adjustments. Anytime you change cassettes, you make need a derailler fine-tuning

OK, FastJake and cny-bikeman, here's some facts. The subject bike is a 1997 model year LeMond, Buenos Aires that will have a new Shimano 8 speed cassette and chain put on it for $68 plus tax this week when the parts arrive at the shop. I also have a 1998 LeMond Buenos Aires. Why two? Because my dad had the 1997 model and he can't ride it any longer at 92 y. o. He quit riding at 85 y. o.

As far as finding new 8 speed cassettes, I looked last night and they can be ordered new at a myriad of places. As far as the bikes being set up for them....well, they both came new with 8 gear cassettes and triple chainrings. You can look that up on the www.

As far as whether the bikes are classic or not, probably not in most people's minds but they are in mine. That's all that counts since I'm the one that rides them. End of that discussion.

As far as the rate I will pay ($68), that's about $10 more than if I did the job myself according to the replies to my original post. Considering what's going on in my life right now and, again, my lack of desire to work on bicycles, I consider it a fair price.

As far as "what I've actually done before", that isn't an issue. I recently quit tracking motorcycles and sold all five of what most people consider "crotch rockets" that I owned. I've done 100% of the set up, rebuilding, and maintenance of all of my motorcycles including the track bike, and was usually able to at least stay with anyone I rode with on track day weekends. I chose not to race motorcycles as it's a contact sport which brings on too much risk for me. Prior to my motorcycle interests, I've tracked various cars since my teens and I'm far beyond my teens now. 100% of the set up and mods were done by yours truly having competed in SCCA racing off and on for most of my adult life.

So, no, I don't particularly have a desire to work on bicycles since I can outsource it rather inexpensively. The only tools that aren't in my shop are machine tools. I probably own every tool there is to own but bicycle tools....whoops wait, I have some tire tools.

You're right, my original post was lacking in information. Oh, why bicycles now? I've ridden them since 1998 off and on and have a closet full of century T-shirts. Trying to get back in century shape again since I'm out of motorsports at least for now. I most certainly appreciate everyone that replied so helpfully. My questions were answered and the price I'll pay is validated here which I appreciate. Be careful what you ask me.....those are long answers to short questions but I have no problem with that. Oh, another one....how can I make the weather this summer a little cooler for riding purposes?

I think the problem is you may think a 1997 is an old bike but many of us would not consider it old. I thought you were talking aboout a freewheel bike when you said old and that would be considerably more involved and expensive. When you ask question give all the information you can. Your question isn't as bad as the ones that say "I have a red bike what is it" but you would have gotten better answers with more details. Roger

Wow, it's as if posts #1 and 12 were written by two different people.

I can't understand why someone with such vast mechanical abilities and little time would spend the time involved with bringing a bike to a shop, waiting for it, then retrieving it when they could do the work themselves in the time it takes to attach it to the car.

If you are near Barber, and I suspect you are, then you certainly have some great places to ride along with a few Cat 1 climbs. Yeah, that $67 sounds about right. I can't wrench anything but bikes. I actually enjoy most of it. But I can see why you wouldn't want to be bothered. It's nice to simply take something in and be done with it.

What it costs depends on where you look ..

The overhead to operate a Shop is lower in rural places than, say NYC..


Might be a good time to tool up for DIY, then all you have to buy
is the parts that will wear out over time.
more chains and cassettes , and later, Chainrings, etc.

It will cost you about $1,200, as that is the cost of a new road bike. Unless you go into your standard shop committed only to get the chain & cassette replaced, and armed with information, you will hit the brick wall of:

- 8-speed? They haven't made that in years!
- We don't stock that
- We can't get that
- They no longer make that.

I have to point out here that 8 speed stuff is still very readily available. Many low- and mid-end bikes are still being produced with 8 speed drivetrains, and any large parts distributor will have a varied selection of 8 speed cassettes, chains, etc.

Absolutely correct -- and 8 speed stuff is cheaper than 9 speed. And while there isn't the variety of 8 speed cassettes as there are for 9 speeds, there are enough types available to get the job done just fine.

I'd imagine just about any shop would have 8 speed cassettes and chains in stock. The vast majority of bikes in the US use an 8 speed width chain.

Nope, both posts were written by me. Like you, I do a lot of what I want to do, a lot of what I don't want to do, and when I have a choice, I make it. I choose not to work on bicycles. Now, do you understand?

The cassette is in and the mechanic 2 miles away said I could wait while he puts it on. Shimano 8 speed cassettes are easy to find. Pardon my not realizing a 1997 bicycle is not considered old. Obviously, I'm not up on bicycling other than riding.

Paul Barnard, I'm 100 miles north of Barber (The Rocket City) and took Keith Code's school there. Barber is the most awesome track....period. After taking Keith's school and Freddie Spencer's in Vegas, I went back to Barber for a couple of track weekends and had more fun than the law should allow. And, yes, there is a variety of riding around here from mild hills to killer steep mountains. When you do a century around here, it isn't just a hundred miles. There's major elevation change, hence my taking getting into better shape seriously.

Well folks, I had no idea that I would start such an interesting and helpful thread here. Sorry for the vague post but most of you got through it and I appreciate the help. Apparently, I'm fairly good at getting a wide variety of feedback...

I was alluding to the level of arrogance displayed in the second (and subsequent) posts after asking for people to take the time to offer requested advice. In the first post the OP was worried about comparing quotes for a minor job. In, subsequent posts he's putting people down for suggesting ways to save a little money as it's not worth his time.

Now do YOU understand?

Wow, rog, I didn't see any input from you relating to being part of the solution or answering my original question nor did I find any anything related to my worrying about cost. I have to wonder what your agenda is in being in this thread since you offer nothing constructive but everything critical and judgmental as though you have a chip on your shoulder. I've said thank you for the help more than once and apologized for a post that was vague in a few poster's minds. Isn't that enough to end the thread right now? It is for me. Bye bye now.

8sp is still very common in mountain-bike ratios. The options narrow down a lot when you want a road-ratio cassette, which is what this thread's about. Shimano has HG50 and SRAM has PG-850 with suitable ratios for a 105-equipped road bike.

Sora cassette $40
CN-HG91 chain $35
Labor $30

$105. <- That should hopefully be the high estimate.

$68 = deal of the century now